Obama's Careful Urban League Speech

The president kept his message all-inclusive at the civil rights group's annual convention.

(The Root) -- President Barack Obama walked a narrow line in his speech to the National Urban League convention in New Orleans Wednesday night, attempting to fire up his most enthusiastic base while giving his most rabid enemies as little ammo as possible to fire back at him.

It was no easy task. There has been some grumbling in the black community that the first African-American president was taking the last-hired and first-fired community for granted. That sentiment grew stronger this summer after Obama sent Vice President Joe Biden to address the National Association of Black Journalists and the NAACP. So Obama arrived in New Orleans for the annual Urban League meetup possibly fearing that African Americans might not show up in large enough numbers at the polling booths in November.

The president's speech to the venerable civil rights organization hit on the three most critical challenges in the black community -- violence, education and jobs -- while deftly managing to broaden the scope enough so that conservatives wouldn't have an easy shot at labeling his remarks as for blacks only.

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With the exception of announcing that, by executive order, he was establishing "the first ever White House initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, so that every child has greater access to a complete and competitive education," the president's speech was pretty much all-American for all Americans.

The POTUS ticked off measures his administration has done to help black students, such as increasing Pell Grants and pushing colleges and universities to cut their costs. But imbedded in those boasts was an unspoken truth: This is good for the rest of our fellow citizens, too.

The same tactic was employed for jobs. "We don't believe government should be in the business of helping people that refuse to help themselves, and we recognize that not every government program works," Obama said. "But we do expect hard work to pay off. We do expect responsibility to be rewarded. We do expect that if you put in enough effort you should be able to find a job that pays off."

Obama also deftly merged the Urban League's mission of equal opportunity into values of the middle class, where prosperity should be broad-based. But in speaking about the tragedies brought on by the senseless deaths from gun violence Obama really integrated his message. "Violence plagues the biggest cities but it also plagues the smallest town," he said. "It claims the lives of Americans of different ages and different races, and it's tied together by the fact that these young people had dreams and had futures that were cut tragically short."

The president spoke of praying for the victims of the massacre in Aurora, Colo.: "We also pray for those who succumb to less publicized acts of violence that plague our communities in so many cities across the country every day. We can't forget about that." Obama's sleight of hand was not just a black-and-white narrative. He delicately drilled deeper into the gun-violence plague without once mentioning gun control.

"I also believe, like other Americans, that AK-47s belong on the battlefield of war, not on the streets of our cities," he said. Then he went on to say he was going to talk to members of the House and Senate to seek "a consensus around violence reduction." That was another hidden message. I read it as this: "We all know all this gun violence is insane, but I can't afford to rile up the gun nuts right now. I've got an election to win."

Cyber columnist Monroe Anderson is a veteran Chicago journalist who has written signed op-ed-page columns for both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times and executive-produced and hosted his own local CBS TV show. He was also the editor of Savoy Magazine. Follow him on Twitter.

October 31, 2008

We're got an old wound that Sarah Palin and her running buddy, John McCain, have ripped off the scab and torn open and exposed for all the world to see: The Divided States of America. Although George W. Bush contributed mightily to the whole Red State/Blue State development and, before him, Ronald Reagan launched the Southern Strategy, until recently we sorta, kinda thought of ourselves as the United States of America. No more. Thanks to McPalin, we've now come to realize there are real Americans and the rest of us. We now know there are pro-American parts of America and then there are those other parts in our nation. Channeling Joseph McCarthy, Michele Bachmann, a Republican congresswoman from Minnesota, even pointed out that Barack and Michelle Obama are anti-American and called for the MSM to do a congressional investigation to discover which of her Democratic colleagues were anti-American. This may sound like a bunch of nonsense to many of you, but I suggest we think about it. If the McCain, Palin, Bachmann crowd really don’t think we’re one of them—then maybe we shouldn’t be. I’m startin to believe that the First Dude, Todd Palin, was on to somethin when he was pallin around with members of the Alaska Independence Party and lookin into the movement to have his and Sarah's state secede from the Lower 48. I’m now believin that he was right in spirit, but wrong in who ought to be leavin who. I'm figurin that those of us in the Blue States should let all those true Americans in the Red States keep it real. And I just received a viral email from my Jewish, suspected socialist-sympathizing friend, Chuck Halevi, spelling out just what we should do and what we'll get in the process and what we'll be leavin to the not anti-Americans.

Read it and smile:

Dear
Red States:
We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form ourown country, and we're taking the other Blue States
withus. In case you aren't aware, that includes California ,
Hawaii ,
Oregon , Washington ,
Minnesota , Wisconsin ,
Michigan ,Illinois and the entire Northeast.
We believe this split will be beneficial to thenation, and especially to the people of the new
country of New
California

To sum up briefly:
You get Texas , Oklahoma
and all the slave states. Weget stem cell research and the best beaches.
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America 's
venture capital and
entrepreneurs. You get Alabama .
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue; you get to makethe red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lowerthan the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of
happy
families. You get a bunch of single moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will bepro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all
our citizens backfromIraq
at once.
If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals.
They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths forno purpose, and they don't care if you don't
show pictures of theirchildren's caskets coming home.
We do wish you success in Iraq ,
and hope that the WMDsturn up, but we're not willing to spend our
resources in Bush'sQuagmire.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have:firm control of 80 percent of the country's
freshwater more than 90 percent of the pineapple and
lettuce
92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit
95 percent of America 's
quality wines (you can serveFrench wines at state dinners)
90 percent of all cheese
90 percent of the high tech industry - most of the
U.S.
low-sulfur coal all living redwoods, sequoias and condors all the
Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus ... - Stanford ,
CalTech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will haveto cope with:
- 88 percent of all obese Americans
(and theirprojectedhealth care costs)
- 92 percent of all U.S.
mosquitoes,
- nearly 100 percent of the
tornadoes,
- 90 percent of the hurricanes,
- virtually 100 percent of all
televangelists andtheir buddies like Rush Limbaugh, as well as Bob
Jones University ,ClemsonCollege and the Univ. of Georgia.
We get Hollywood and Yosemite ,
thank you very much.
Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red statesbelieve Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62
percent believe
life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws,
44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that
Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you nincompoops believe
you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You
can have the Mexican stuff when they knock your wall down.

Peace out,

Oh, and one last thing. Keeping in the spirit of who gets the short end of the stick, y'all can have Mavericks John McCain and Sarah Palin. We get Vice-President Joe Biden and, the Leader of the Really Free World, President Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.

October 20, 2008

I get my fair share of viral emails like everyone else. But I particularly like this one because it so adroitly flips the script, encouraging us to reconsider circumstances. It's something the right-wingers who so vehemently charge that Barack Obama isn't qualified to run this nation--and that Sarah Palin is--should think about. That applies to the undecided voters who question Obama's skills while blithely accepting McCain's as well:

Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin, what if things were switchedaround?....think about it.

Would the country's collective point of view be different?Could racism be the culprit?

Ponder the following:

What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, includinga three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduatingclass?

What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?

What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severedisfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to hisstandards?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affairwhile he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama
was the wife who not only bec ame addicted topainkillers but also acquired them illegally through her charitableorganization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Fivewere five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, ignitinga major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisisof the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that includeddiscipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on manyoccasions, a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beerdistribution?

You could easily add to this list. If
these questions reflectedreality,do you really believe the election numbers would be as close asthey are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizespositive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities inanother when there is a color difference.

October 02, 2008

Watching Sarah Palin debatetonight was absolutely delicious—she’s done! John McCain choice for his running mate served up one half-baked response after the next, short on specifics and heavy on platitudes and generalities. With the public souring on the moose dresser turned instant media star—only 38 percent of voters now believe she’s ready for the big time—this was the Arizona governor’s last best hope to demonstrate any competence or comprehension about national and international affairs.
It didn’t happen. She wasn’t even close.
Palin served up the same old leftover right-wing bromides that she’s been feeding us, during the infrequent availabilities she’s made since screeching out her acceptance speech in St. Paul 30 long days ago.
“Can I call you Joe?” Palin asked in a folksy right off the bat of Sen. Biden before winkin at the Joe Six Packs and Hockey moms sittin out there in Red state America hopin she wouldn’t end up soundin too stupid.
Gov. Palin didn't. She didn’t say anything dumb. She said only one thing truly alarming—that she wanted to expand the power of the vice presidency over the senate. But she didn’t she say anything intelligent or knowledgeable. Heck, Palin didn’t even offer any straight talk to any of Gwen Ifill’s questions, choosing rather to ask her own softball questions before giving a practiced answer.
There was plenty of sizzle but no moose steak. Just an oversized platter full of talking points and snippets of her standard campaign speech.

So savor this: the elitist Eastern media, with its appetite for truth and substance, will have Palin’s poor debate performance for lunch before the week is out.

September 09, 2008

No matter what Barack Obama, Joe Biden, the Elitist Liberal Eastern Media and hordes of frustrated Democrats say, Sarah Palin and John McCain are the candidates of change--somehow they're managing to change lies into what millions of Americans believe to be the truth.
Despite the Bridge to Nowhere and Troopergate revelations, the McCain campaign keeps pushing the idea that Palin's a maverick and a reformer. In Republican quarters, I'll bet they just think of what they're spieling as little white lies. I say we need a little colorblindness here--just remove the white. Oh, hell, the little, too.
I have already addressed a measure of the misspeaks and untruths. So, if you're interested in reading some of McPalin's lying truisms, check out my previous posts, Vetting Sarah Palin 2.0, Palin McCain: More Text, lies and video tape, At RNC, when their mouths were moving they weren't telling the truth, and Impalin Palin on a need to know basis.
Among the many lies, of course, is that Gov. Palin was properly vetted. We know better. We now know that McCain met with Palin a little longer than Idaho Sen. Larry Craig met with the undercover cop in the men's room stall next to him at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
So now we are getting a drip, drip, drip of how much a maverick and reformer the Alaska governor really is. Here are two of the latest discoveries:

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has charged her state a daily allowance, normally used for official travel, for more than 300 nights spent at her home, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

An analysis of travel statements filed by the governor, now John McCain's Republican running mate, shows she claimed the per diem allowance on 312 occasions when she was home in Wasilla and that she billed taxpayers $43,490 for travel by her husband and children.

Per diem payments are meant for meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business. State officials told The Post her claims--nearly $17,000 over 19 months--were permitted because her "duty station" is Juneau, the capital, and she was in Wasilla 600 miles away. Palin spends little time at the governor's mansion in Juneau, especially when the Legislature if out of session, and instead prefers to live in Wasilla and commute to her office in Anchorage.

Palin's spending and record in office are coming under intense scrutiny as she is presented to the nation as a champion of ethics reform and frugal use of tax dollars--a leader who put the state jet on sale on eBay and drives herself to work.

Bruce Wilson reported a couple of days ago in his Huffingtonpost.com commentary this:

Sarah Palin's Churches and The Third Wave: New Video Documentary

Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.

Bruce Wilson reported a couple of days ago in his Huffingtonpost.com commentary this:

Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.

August 31, 2008

This much we know for sure: Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain's choice for his running mate for vice president, is a woman.

There are a few other things we should know. "Sarah was raised amongst the tribe," reports Mudflats, a blog that prides itself in tiptoeing through the Muck of Alaskan Politics, "that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools,
homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-
toting, hang ‘em high conservative."

So now we know why McCain picked her. We also know that McCain's maverick cred is about as valid as George W. Bush's curiosity cred. But here are some other things we need to know. For example, her own stepmother, Faye Palin, is not sure she's going to vote for her. Her foreign experience boils down to her being in charge of the Alaska's National Guard--with a grand total of 1,875 men and women. And that we should, "Be afraid...Be very afraid," if McCain wins this election, according to the Angry African on the Loose blog because "We are in serious danger if McCain wins this election. Serious danger."

Angry African's blog posts a series of YouTube virals to make his point, while Mudflats runs it all down. Here's the beginning to the Alaskan-based blog.

“Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my
phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean,
we’re sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of
national ‘nod’….but seriously? Sarah Palin for Vice President? Yes,
she’s a popular governor. Her all time high approval rating hovered
around 90% at one point. But bear in mind that the 90% approval rating
came from one of the most conservative, and reddest-of-the-red states
out there. And that approval rating came before a series of events
that have lead many Alaskans to question the governor’s once pristine
image.

There is no doubt in my mind that many Alaskans are feeling pretty
excited about this. But we live in our own little bubble up here, and
most of the attention we get is because of The Bridge to Nowhere, polar
bears, the indictment of Ted Stevens, and the ongoing investigation and
conviction of the string of legislators and oil executives who
literally called themselves “The Corrupt Bastards Club”.

So seeing our governor out there in the national spotlight accepting
the nomination for Vice Presidential candidate is just downright
surreal. Just months ago, when rumors surfaced that she was on the
long version of the short list, she was questioned if she’d be
interested in the position. She said she couldn’t answer “until
somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day.
I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an
administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here….”

There is no doubt that Palin has fierce territorial loyalties. When
elected governor there was much concern because she came right out and
said she would favor her own home town of Wasilla (where she was mayor)
and its surrounding environs collectively known as “the Valley” while
leading the state. And it’s obvious from her statement that Alaska was
on her mind when accepting the VP nod (see my emphasis above).

So what is it that we’re “trying to accomplish up here”?

Palin is currently in the middle of a controversial gas pipeline
project in Alaska. She’s favored the ‘Trans Canada’ proposal that will
run the pipeline through Canada, in effect shipping US jobs over the
border. Many Alaskans, including former governors, have favored the
“All Alaska Route”.

She is also sueing the federal government over listing the polar
bears as a threatened species. The science was even compelling enough
to convince the Secretery of the Interior that the bears needed to be
listed. But acknowlegement of this issue, and the potential disruption
to development on Alaska’s oil-rich north slope spurred Palin to
attempt to stop the listing.

Does she want to open ANWR? Yes. Every politician in Alaska wants
to open ANWR. It’s basically a requirement if you ever hope to get
elected for anything. Even Mark Begich, the progressive Democrat
running against the indicted Senator and Alaskan institution Ted
Stevens, is pro-drilling. That’s the sea we swim in up here. There
are a few anti-drilling folks, but you have to look hard to find them,
and work hard to have them admit it.

August 27, 2008

At least one of Chris Matthew's often repeated political quipsis going to have to be changed. It goes like this: Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line.

Well, during the first three days of this four-day convention here, in Denver, I’ve watched Democrats in love, fall in line. It was some sight to behold. Michelle Obama was stunning in appearance and speech on Monday. The next night, Hillary Clinton strongly endorsed Obama and chiefly commanded her troops to not be the enemy within and prepare for the battle begun.
Tonight Bill Clinton seconded that emotion.
And, just like that, all those worries about a floor fight or a brokered convention vanished. It was all verbal hugs and kisses. Goo-goo ayes and acclamations. Obama and Biden are a team and the Clintons have given their blessings.
It looks like bad news for the Republicans. For the past week or so they’ve been courting Hillary’ disenchanted and disillusioned followers, hoping to woo them into a temporary political tryst. Republican operatives played on the tensions between the Obama and Clinton camps. They clucked about possible swipes Hillary had made and help spread rumors that Bill would be a party unfaithful.
No such luck and the GOP’s sweet nothings, for the most part, seem to be falling on deaf ears. And while there are still are a small percentage of Hillites ready for the taking, I don’t think there’s enough to spoil the Democrat’s new union. We'll see. But no doubt about it, this has been Obama’s night. Tomorrow will be his day. Ain’t love Grand, Old Party?

August 12, 2008

Barack Obama may name his running mate any day now. Yesterday his campaign launched an online "Barack's VP: Be the First to Know" initiative allowing supporters to sign up to get an email or text message as soon as the decision is made. Although conventional wisdom has the Obama and McCain campaigns waiting for a couple of weeks until the Olympics are over, that may or may not happen. The candidate of change, using his cyberspace army, may announce next week once he returns from his Hawaii vacation. The GOP's erstwhile maverick may pick an opportune time to derail the next surge of the Obama media juggernaut. So, while we know the running mate choices are creeping up on us, we wait to see when they'll be sprung. Factoring in the guessing game, EbonyJet.com decided to run its Vice President Fantasy Draft today, featuring revised choices by some of us who had chosen earlier. My June 2 choice of Colin Powell has been jettisoned, reduced to a real world selection.
You can check out my choice, along with those of Eric Easter and Brian Gilmore, below or by going to Ebonyjet.com where there's are other opinions on other things.

RETHINK: The VP Fantasy Draft

August 12, 2008

Months ago when Monroe Anderson, Brian Gilmore and I did our Fantasy Cabinet Picks for Barack Obama, we always knew that we’d have to make an adjustment once the dust settled a bit. And then, maybe not.

Now that we’re only days away from a final decision of Obama’s choice for VP, we decided to see, knowing what we know now, how committed we are to the choices we made in May.

Eric Easter:
My initial pick was Virginia Senator Jim Webb, with the caveat that I actually preferred former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, but thought his current run for Senate might negate consideration.

Since then, Jim Webb has taken himself out of the running and the buzz has been around current Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. So, right state but wrong choices? I’m not so sure.

I like Tim Kaine, he’s a nice, decent sort of fellow and a popular governor, but let’s get the story straight – Tim Kaine won largely on the coattails of Mark Warner. Prior to Warner’s win, Virgina was solidly Republican. The strategy and groundwork it took to turn a red state blue was done by Warner and it’s that kind of campaigning skill that Obama needs.

I still think Mark Warner is far and away the best partner for Obama, emphasis on “partner.” If Obama is going to win, he’s going to do it mostly on his own accord, though Warner brings a lock on Virginia and a spillover effect into West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and North Carolina. Certainly Obama has to win, but really it’s his race to lose. I’m much more concerned with who can help him govern. Again, Mark Warner is the best choice, having been a hands-on governor known for winning broad Republican support and balancing an extremely complicated state budget,

To make this happen, the Democratic Party will have to find a replacement for Warner in the Senate race, and Warner will have to make peace with the possibility that a loss as VP also loses him the opportunity to grab the almost guaranteed Senate seat he’s been coveting for a decade. On the other hand, the fact that Warner already has a campaign and fundraising organization makes him even more attractive.

I know, I know, what about Joe Biden? Call me crazy but two senators on one ticket just scares me. It’s too top-heavy and the job of senator is too far divorced from the people on the ground. Such a pick would only help the Republicans make the case that the Democrats are running an elitist campaign.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve both worked for and donated money to past Warner campaigns. But this is an objective pick, which is more than I can say for a lot of inside –the- Beltway types calling for Warner because they know they’ll have access to his inner circle.

VP Pick: Mark Warner

Monroe, Brian - your turn.

Brian Gilmore:
Okay, Richard Gephart was way off as VP. At the time, I was thinking Missouri, but that is overblown now because there are other states in play besides Missouri, and Missouri might have been in play even though Gephart is not on the ticket. Not to mention the fact that he has been way off the world stage for too long.

So here are a few theories I am stuck with on how Obama will pick his guy.

The Cokie Roberts Choice:

ABC News commentator Cokie Roberts says he has to pick a dull white guy. This might mean Tim Kaine. Kaine is not exactly exciting and he has another plus working for him – he’s from Virginia. Virginia is the slam dunk state for Barack Obama. If he wins, Virginia, McCain is likely in trouble.

The Kennedy Choice

Obama, of course, admires John F. Kennedy. JFK is famous for picking Lyndon Johnson who delivered Texas for Kennedy and the election. This again might point to people like Tim Kaine of Virginia or another high profile Virginia politician like Jim Webb. Webb’s military background makes him a great, though controversial choice. Ted Strickland of Ohio would fall into this category as would Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania.

Barack Obama is a man of his word, most of the time. He says geography doesn’t matter; it is leadership. This eliminates the Kennedy choice. Tim Kaine is a dull white guy but probably too dull. Hillary Clinton is not a dull white guy; she is smart, clever, tough, but a sort of dull white woman despite her high profile and her skills as a politician. Ed Rendell could be the choice here but he is missing something that ties him to Washington, makes him look like an international player.

Thus, Obama will pick Joe Biden of Delaware because Biden is ready to lead, has excellent credentials and is dull enough that Obama won’t be overshadowed.

VP Pick: Joe Biden

Monroe Anderson:
A couple of months ago, when I picked my fantasy draft for President Obama, the operative word for me was, well, fantasy. Keeping that in mind, my choice for vice president was Colin Powell. I argued that the retired four-star general would cancel out John McCain’s military advantage. And that as a former presidential cabinet member for both Papa and Junior Bush, Powell was so popular among Republicans, independents and Reagan Democrats that many thought him a more viable candidate in 2000 than George W. I even offered an off-hand—but serious—that “for the nut jobs out there that might be planning an assassination attempt of the nation’s first African American Chief Executive, they’d be forced to think twice.”

But, I knew then as I know now that the regular Democrats aren’t about to let a Republican get that job in the name of change. And, of course, that regular white Americans, Democrat or Republican, weren’t about to vote for a black president and black vice-president—that would be way too much change.

So this time, I’m for real: It won’t be John Edwards.

Seriously, the current short list of names most mentioned for Obama’s running mate are Virginia’s Tim Kaine, Delaware’s Joe Biden and Indiana’s Evan Bayh.

Just two weeks ago, the Washington insiders’ whisper mill had Kaine as the one to beat. Minnesota-born, it was duly-noted that Kaine could help deliver red state Virginia, a feat that might make the difference between Obama being the nation’s first black president or the guy who did way better than the reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Kaine is said to be very compatible with Obama because they both have Kansas roots and they both have Harvard law degrees to decorate the appropriate wall. Kaine was also the first governor outside of Illinois to back Obama.

They aren’t whispering as much as they were last month. My suspicion is because Kaine may be too easy a target for the right-wing fear and smear machine. For one thing, the one-term governor hasn’t governed his state all that well. For another, it’s his name.

There’s a double-digit number of Americans who refuse to believe that Obama’s not a Muslim. An Obama-Kaine ticket would compound the problem with the wing-nut bloggers pointing out that Kaine is not able and that Barack Obama’s middle name is still Hussein.

Biden, on the other hand, shouldn’t be so easily dismissed. He would instantaneously give the ticket foreign policy cred and deflect some of the greenhorn thrust the McCain camp is pushing out there. BUT, Biden, who has been in the senate longer than a bunch of Obama’s most ardent supporters have been alive, doesn’t exactly represent change. AND, Biden is known for sudden outbreaks of foot-in-mouth disease: Remember the Delaware senator’s quote earlier this year that in Obama as a presidential candidate “you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy”?

So Bayh is my choice. A former governor, the two-term senator can help deliver his very red state because he’s popular with both Democrat and Republican Hoosiers. As a former Hillary Clinton supporter, he may also help pacify some of the New York senator’s still disaffected backers. And as a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, he brings something to the foreign affairs table.

Bayh’s drawback is that he is so milquetoast that few voters may notice he’s in the game and that he may be unwilling—or unable—to trash talk while throwing some elbows towards Team McCain.

That may be why Bodog, the online gambling site, has 3/2 odds for both Bayh and Kaine. The next closest choice is Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius whose odds are 8/1.

July 29, 2008

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has the inside track
to become Barack Obama’s vice presidential choice, according to Washington insiders. But Bodog, the on-line sports gambling outfit, says the odds-on favorite is Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. No matter what the Beltway pols and pundits think, the Minnesota-born Kaine right now places with 6-1 odds of landing in the VP circle. The Spread, Bodog's on-line website, favors Bayh because “Evan could help with those (white) working middle class voters that Obama has failed to bring into his camp as hoped.”

"....just think how an Obama-Kaine ticket would sound to the holy rollers
out there who refuse to believe that Barack’s a Christian. The evil
right-wing mischief-makers will have all kinds of fun with that pairing."

A former Hillary Clinton supporter, Bayh could also help put neighboring Indiana, a Red state, into the Illinois senator’s win column. Of course, the Minnesota-born Kaine could help deliver Virginia, a southern state that has been trending blue. The insiders think Kaine may land the number two spot because he is thought to be very compatible with Obama. Both men are Harvard law alums and both have Kansas roots. Kaine was the first governor outside of Illinois to back Obama. But the senator from Indiana brings more to the table. Bayh, a politician who is beloved by both Democratic and Republican voters in the Hoosier State, is a two-term governor, two-term senator and member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. Other Democrats in the running, who are now being vetted, have more of a handicap. While Joe Biden’s odds are identical to Kaine’s, Hillary Clinton is favored 7/1. Former contenders for the party’s presidential nomination, John Edwards and Bill Richardson, both come in with 12/1 odds. If I were a gambling man, I’d go with Bodog’s odds. Right after Super Tuesday, the political bettors there had Barack at 5/8 and Hillary at 21/20. And I’d definitely take my money off the table before going with the Washington insiders’ bet on Kaine. First of all, just think how an Obama-Kaine ticket would sound to the holy rollers out there who refuse to believe that Barack’s a Christian. The evil right-wing mischief-makers will have all kinds of fun with that pairing. Besides that, still in his first term, Kaine hasn’t won over a lot of Virginians in his governing of the state. In other words, Kaine’s not Abel.

June 02, 2008

Ebonyjet.com has asked its political contributors to pick cabinet members in a fantasy draft for Barack Obama should he become president. Eric Easter, Johnson Publishing's chief of digital strategy, was the first to voice his choice. I thought about the challenge and decided to go out the box in choosing the Veep in my dream team: Colin Powell. Putting the retired general in the number two slot on the Democratic ticket would be the ultimate cross-party gesture from the candidate of change. Over the past two or three decades, a gaggle of conservative Democrats have denounced their party affiliation to before becoming instant Republicans. Turn about would be fair play with Powell's public rejection of President Bush's Iraq war policies; his public explanation on how the Bush Administration hoodwinked him into making the WMD argument before the United Nations; and his public criticism of the Republican party's dreadful mishandling of national governance since it's introduction of the "Contract with America." Of course, the power players in Democratic Party would never allow a recently-converted Republican to land the much coveted second spot...but while I'm in a fantasy mode, I figured I'd make a quick case for something completely different. Here's my ebonyjet.com commentary posted earlier today.

Monroe Anderson’s been busy over the last couple of days breaking news on our stalwart Democratic presidential candidate. Fortunately, we corralled him a bit earlier to share his picks for the Ebonyjet.com Fantasy Draft for an Obama White House cabinet. He has a few opinions...)

Before I name my fantasy cabinet, allow me to be for real. Cabinet members are not just selected for their administrative abilities; there are also political considerations and paybacks to be brokered. Some appointments will come out of the Washington bureaucracy. Others will be marquee name Democrats—and, most likely, a Republican or two. During the process of inclusion and elimination, Obama will get tons of suggestions. So, here’s two pounds worth.

Vice President— Colin PowellForget get about Hillary Clinton. She can’t be trusted to watch Obama’s back and besides—he’ll get two for the cost of one with hubby Bill attached to the deal. John Edwards looks good on camera but demonstrated as Kerry’s Veep that he’s not good at playing bad cop to the party nominee’s good cop; neither is Bill Richardson. Powell will make an unmistakable change statement for presidential nominee Obama. Selecting a Republican as his running mate would turn tradition on its head. The retired four-star general would cancel out John McCain’s military advantage. As a former presidential cabinet member for both Papa and Junior Bush, Powell was so popular among Republicans, independents and Reagan Democrats that many thought him a more viable candidate in 2000 than George W. I know this is out-of-the box thinking but Powell is basically a Republican by opportunity only and should be a welcomed addition to the other side of the aisle. Finally, for the nut jobs out there that might be planning an assassination attempt of the nation’s first African American Chief Executive, they’d be forced to think twice.

Chief of Staff—Gov. Bill RichardsonDuring the double-digit number of debates among the candidates for Democratic Party nomination for president, the governor of New Mexico demonstrated time and time again that he is both level-headed and a peace-maker. Richardson, who was one of the highest-ranking Hispanic appointees in President Clinton’s administration, brings the right blend of experience and respect to keep Obama’s White House in order.

Secretary of State—Sen. Joe BidenAt the risk of upsetting the balance of power in the senate, Obama will have to be frugal when it comes to recruiting for his cabinet among Democrats in the upper chamber. Fortunately, with the Republican brand in ruins, the Democrats should end up with enough new senate seats to offset Biden’s move into the inner-sanctum of the Oval Office. As the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the senior senator from Delaware has been a major proponent of a no-nonsense approach to bringing the troops home. Biden also commands respect on The Hill and in the Pentagon.

Attorney General—Lani GuinierFor the past seven years, justice has been denied to virtually any American whose net worth was seven digits or greater. Labeled by the right as “anti-Constitution” and “the quota queen” when Bill Clinton nominated her for assistant attorney general in 1993, the president caved, kicking his former Yale Law School classmate under the bus. Imminently qualified, Guiner will make sure that the poor and the wage earner gets their just due.

Secretary of Defense—Sam NunnAs a member of the Obama administration, the four-term retired Georgia senator will have to tamp down his opposition to gays in the military if any change is gonna come. But, beyond that discriminatory instinct, the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services is ideal for Defense Secretary. Right now, Nunn is the co-chairman—with Ted Turner--and Chief Executive Officer of the NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative), a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

National Security Advisor—Susan RiceRice will have her hands full correcting the international miscalculations of President Bush’s Condoleezza Rice. Currently on leave from the Brookings Institute, Dr. Susan Rice served President Clinton as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She now serves as the Obama campaign’s senior foreign policy advisor.

Secretary of Veteran Affairs--John MurthaThe House already has a Democratic-margin safety net; therefore Obama can deftly move the Pennsylvania congressman into this important post. Like McCain, Murtha is a Vietnam War hero. Unlike McCain, three years ago Murtha called for a redeployment of American troops in Iraq. A Clinton supporter in the primary race, Murtha—along with Powell and Biden—would help the Obama administration consolidate support in military and veteran quarters.

Department of Energy—Gov. Christine GregoireWith global warming threatening to end the world as we know it and oil prices at record highs and rising, Obama will need a director willing to steer our energy practices away from old fossil fuels and into alternative energy. As the governor of Washington, Gregoire is known for her green dedication. She made sure her state was the first in the nation to enact a mandate for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for public buildings.

Secretary of Commerce— Jeffrey SachsWe’re going to need a heavy-hitter to undo all the damage to the economy Bush and his Republican majority perpetrated on us in this new millennium. Sachs is the solution. Currently a professor on the faculty at the School of International and Public Affairs and director of the Earth Institute, both at Columbia University, Sachs is also Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In his critically acclaimed book, “The End of Poverty,” Sachs asserts, "Extreme poverty can be ended, not in the time of our grandchildren, but our time."

Monroe Anderson is an award-winning journalist who penned op-ed columns for both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Check out his blog at monroeanderson.typepad.com